Protesters demand El-Rufai refund N432bn as anti-graft agencies probe intensifies

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Kaduna on Thursday, demanding that former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai refund N432 billion allegedly misappropriated during his administration.
Led by the Nasiriya Movement, the protesters marched through the major streets of the state capital, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct thorough investigations.
The group’s National President, Alhaji Garkuwa Ibrahim Babuga, said justice must be allowed to take its full course without interference or compromise. “We believe that more than N432 billion of taxpayers’ money was misappropriated under the previous administration. The former governor must not be set free until he refunds our money,” he said.
The protesters also alleged that thousands of workers were arbitrarily disengaged without payment of gratuities and other entitlements, leaving many in hardship.
They vowed to sustain the protest until justice is served, warning that they would mobilize to Abuja if not satisfied with the outcome of the probe.
One of the leading women protesters, Mrs. Patience John, commended the anti-corruption agencies for initiating the investigation, describing it as a step toward accountability and transparency in governance.